Philadelphia Secured the Right to Sign Albert King
The 76ers signed Albert King as a veteran free agent on November 24, 1987. New Jersey agreed not to exercise its right of first refusal and received the 76ers 1988 second-round pick as compensation. The Nets historical media guide and Philadelphia transaction ledger identify that same choice, later used on Charles Shackleford at No. 32. Philadelphia gained an experienced forward immediately; New Jersey acquired an opportunity to draft a younger player the next summer. The agreement should not be described as King moving through a straight player-for-player swap, since he signed as a free agent while the clubs arranged compensation for his rights.
Shackleford Supplied an Actual Young Frontcourt Return
The draft pick became center-forward Charles Shackleford. He made his NBA debut for New Jersey in 1988-89 and appeared in 60 games as a rookie, averaging 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in only 8.1 minutes. His role expanded in 1989-90, when he played 70 games with 37 starts and averaged 8.2 points with 6.8 rebounds. Those numbers document a clear on-court return from the acquired second-rounder, rather than speculation about the player chosen. Although Shackleford later played for other franchises, the Nets deserve credit only for his New Jersey tenure. The C+ grade is a conservative assessment of that two-season value.
King Provided Philadelphia a Veteran Forward Option
Philadelphia obtained a scorer who had previously played in New Jersey and was capable of serving as a reserve while the 76ers adjusted their rotation. The compensation required one future second-round selection, not a first or multiple picks. A veteran frontcourt presence could be worthwhile to Philadelphia even if King did not settle into a long career there. The canonical C+ grade recognizes the limited cost and the available roster help, but it should not be inflated by crediting King achievements with the Nets or earlier NBA teams to this agreement. A similar grade for both sides reflects the modest stakes and the lack of a franchise-changing result.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. New Jersey receives C+ after converting compensation for Albert King into a 1988 second-round selection used on Charles Shackleford, who supplied two Nets seasons. Philadelphia gets C+ for signing King to provide veteran depth. Both sides extracted a practical but limited return from this restricted-free-agency arrangement.